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The Japanese Sword Law & Export / Import of Swords From / Into Japan by C.U. Guido Schiller

Application of the sword law and related topics

In order to legally own a sword in Japan it has to be registered in accordance with the Ju-t˘-h˘ 銃
刀法 (Japanese Firearms and Sword Law). This applies to both antique and newly made swords
(Shinsakut˘ 新作刀). Exempted are blades under 15 cm (5.9 inches), and Iait˘ / Mogit˘ (training
and decorative swords made from a zinc-aluminum alloy that can't be sharpened). Presently about
2.3 million swords are registered in Japan.

The certificate / license issued - Juh˘-t˘ken-rui-t˘rokush˘ 銃砲刀剣類登録証 (in short
"T˘rokush˘" 登録証) - has to stay with the sword at all times. Most collectors attach it to the
Shirasaya-bukoro or Koshirae-bukoro (storage bags). It's the blade that is registered, not the
owner; however, the Prefectural Education Board (Ky˘iku-inkai 教育委員会) has to be notified
within 20 days if there is a change of ownership, using the Shoyűsha-henk˘-todokesho 所有者変
更届書 form.

Licensing is done by the Education Board at a T˘roku-shinsa-kaij˘ 登録審査会場 (sword
evaluation meeting), which usually takes place once a month. The judges conducting the Shinsa
are sword experts contracted by the Education Board, usually senior members of the local
NBTHK branch (Nippon Bijutsu T˘ken Hozon Ky˘kai 日本美術刀剣保存協会 = Society for
the preservation of the Japanese Art Sword).

If someone who lives in Japan finds an unregistered sword (which happens surprisingly often, for
instance after the death of a family member who hid it after the war, or when an old house is torn
down), the finder has to contact the crime-prevention section of the district police (Keisatsu-shobohan-
ka 警察署防犯課). There a Hakken-todoke 発見届 is issued to enable the finder to attend
the T˘roku-shinsa.

It should be noted that the T˘rokush˘ is not a certificate of authenticity; only the length, Sori,
number of Mekugi-ana and the Mei (name inscribed) are stated, whether it's authentic (Sh˘shin
正真) or false (Gimei 偽銘).

Only traditionally made Nihont˘ can be licensed, i.e. swords made in Japan from Tamahagane 玉
鋼 (and Shint˘ swords that are inscribed "Motte Namban-Tesu 以南蠻鐵" ["made using steel
from the southern barbarians"]). This means in effect that it has to be either an antique, or made
by a contemporary, licensed smith. Mass produced WWII swords (so called Sh˘wat˘昭和刀)
and foreign made swords are not eligible for T˘rokush˘.

Contemporary smiths have to go through an apprenticeship of at least five years and - after they
have proven their ability to forge a sword before a panel of judges consisting of senior smiths -
become certified by the Cultural Agency (Bunka-ch˘ 文化庁).

Nihont˘ can be freely imported into, and exported from Japan if all procedures are carried out
according to the law. However, there is one notable exception:
In 1950 the Bunkazai-hogo-h˘ 文化財保護法 took effect, in which important artwork of
exemplary artistic and historic significance can be designated as Jűy˘-Bunkazai 重要文化財
("important cultural property") and Kokuh˘ 国宝 ("national treasure"). At present ca. 900 swords
are designated Jűy˘-Bunkazai, and out of those 122 are Kokuh˘. Although anybody - including
non-Japanese - can own such an item, it has to remain in Japan under penalty of law. If such a
sword is sold, the government reserves itself the right to buy it for "a fair market price". Only if
this right is waved, a private person can buy it (which explains why such swords are usually sold
at the end of the fiscal year).

Ranking below the Jűy˘-Bunkazai are the Jűy˘-Bijutsuhin 重要美術品 ("important art work").
This designation was issued between 1933 and 1950 for a total of 1,004 swords, and an export
permit is usually granted. However, once a Jűy˘-Bijutsuhin leaves Japan, it is stricken from the
register and thus looses its status. Occasionally exceptions are made, but this involves a lot of
paperwork and "connections".

Exporting Swords From Japan

Swords for export must be submitted to the Bunka-ch˘-bijutsu-k˘gei-ka 文化庁美術工芸課 (Art
and Craft Section of the Cultural Agency). The T˘rokush˘ is handed in, and an export permit
(Kobijutsuhin-yushutsu-kansa-sh˘mei 古美術品輸出鑑査証明) is issued in return. This export
permit is valid for one month; within that time all customs and export procedures have to be
completed or otherwise the permit becomes void.

Swords for export must be submitted to the Bunka-ch˘-bijutsu-k˘gei-ka 文化庁美術工芸課 (Art
and Craft Section of the Cultural Agency). The T˘rokush˘ is handed in, and an export permit
(Kobijutsuhin-yushutsu-kansa-sh˘mei 古美術品輸出鑑査証明) is issued in return. This export
permit is valid for one month; within that time all customs and export procedures have to be
completed or otherwise the permit becomes void.

Swords for export must be submitted to the Bunka-ch˘-bijutsu-k˘gei-ka 文化庁美術工芸課 (Art
and Craft Section of the Cultural Agency). The T˘rokush˘ is handed in, and an export permit
(Kobijutsuhin-yushutsu-kansa-sh˘mei 古美術品輸出鑑査証明) is issued in return. This export
permit is valid for one month; within that time all customs and export procedures have to be
completed or otherwise the permit becomes void.

If sent by parcel, the sword and export permit has to be brought to the International Post Office
(Kokusai Yűbinkyoku 国際郵便局). Customs checks the export permit against the sword (at
least the Nakago has to be shown to the customs officer), and only then can the sword be packed
while customs observes packing, sealing the parcel afterwards. Another form has to be filled in
by the sender, which is stamped by the carrier at shipping as proof thereof, and must be returned
to customs immediately.

Importing Swords Into Japan

There are two possibilities: sending a sword to Japan via parcel, or bringing it into the country
personally (in the latter case there's a limit of 3 swords per person).

If the sword is sent to Japan, the parcel has to include a pro-forma invoice declaring the value of
the sword, and that it is being sent for restoration and will be returned to the sender upon
completion of the work (otherwise import duties have to be paid by the consignee). The sword is
then stored at the International Post Office, and a notification is sent to the recipient to attend
licensing. This takes place once a month at the International Post Office; after the T˘rokush˘ is
issued, the sword will be forwarded to the addressee (it can not be brought home directly after
Shinsa).

When personally bringing a sword into Japan, it has to be declared at customs. Customs escorts
the importer to the port police, which then will issue a temporary import permit (Hikiwatashi-sho
引渡書). The importer has to contact the Prefectural Education Board for proper licensing; if he
lives in Japan it's that of his prefecture, otherwise the one at the prefecture of the restorer.

In T˘ky˘ Shinsa takes place at the T˘ky˘ Metropolitan Government Office (T˘ky˘ Toch˘ 東京
都庁) in Shinjuku at the second Tuesday of every month. One fills out the registration form,
takes a number, and waits for his turn to be called to one of the Shinsa tables. The inspection
itself takes only a few minutes, and after establishing that the sword is eligible for licensing, the
T˘rokush˘ is issued for a fee of ą 6,300.

Although most of the inspectors are nice guys, they tend to get sloppy towards the end of the
Shinsa day. I've seen quite a few collectors being in a cold sweat, almost refusing to let them
handle the sword, out of the fear that the inspectors might yet again scratch up one of their prized
blades; once they lost the Mekugi of one of my swords; on another occasion they misread the
Mei, and after I complained, another license was issued. Sure, the face-loss was theirs, but it was
me who wasted another hour waiting for the outcome of their joint effort to explain to each other
this perfectly innocent mistake, and the laminating of the new T˘rokush˘.

If a sword is rejected at the Shinsa, the recipient (or owner if at that time in Japan) has to decide
whether it will be sent back to where it came from, or handed over to the police for destruction.
Swords brought to Japan personally that are held back already at the port police can be picked up
again when leaving Japan.

Choosing A Shipping Method

Since Japan Post and EMS (a subsidiary of Japan Post) are located at the same building as
customs in T˘ky˘ - the aforementioned International Post Office - the majority of those who send
a sword abroad use them for shipping. It's convenient, and most private carriers are not familiar
with exporting swords; I've heard quite a few horror stories about how UPS, FedEx, Nittsu etc.
messed up the export of swords.

Equally, when sending swords to Japan, either the national postal service (e.g. USPS), or EMS
should be used. In both cases the sword(s) arrive(s) at the Intl. Post Office. When using a private
carrier, or sending a sword as unaccompanied air luggage, customs clearing has to be done at
Narita, since T˘ky˘'s International Airport is located in Chiba prefecture. A pre-Shinsa takes
place at the cargo section of the airport, and the sword has to be taken to the regular Shinsa in
T˘ky˘ after that. Besides the time spent at pre-Shinsa (which usually is done by a very nice,
elderly, high-ranking Iaid˘ teacher [about whom I'm not sure that he wants to see his name
published]), driving to Narita and back takes at least 3 hours from downtown T˘ky˘.

Japanese Law Enforcement

or

Toto, I've A Feeling We're Not In Kansas Anymore

The above is a summary of the laws and proceedings to the best of my knowledge, and based on
my personal experience. It may sound very complicated and unnecessary to those who are used to much more liberal weapon laws, but it's the law in Japan, and we have to abide by it if buying
swords there or sending them to, for instance, a polisher

I have to warn everybody who entertains the notion of sending a blade to Japan without declaring
the parcel's contents, or who wants to smuggle a sword into Japan personally. If you've visited
Japan, you probably only came into contact with the police when inquiring at a Koban 交番
(police box) about an address, and they've been as nice as their limited command of the English
language allowed.

But if police only suspects as much as you having violated the law, you're in for an unpleasant
surprise. Technically speaking, if you are riding a bicycle, a policeman can stop you on the
suspicion that you may have stolen it. Since there is no law of habeas corpus in Japan, the
Japanese police can - and often do - keep people in rooms for weeks without charge, adequate
food or even sleep until incriminating confessions are signed. Be it known that cops in this
country have a lot of arbitrary power; they make their moves, and let the lawyers or Amnesty
International sort it out later.

Possession of a sword or firearm - and be it only a smallish Tant˘ or a muzzle loader - without
the proper registration isn't only a misdemeanor but a criminal offense, punishable by up to Yen
300,000 and / or up to three years imprisonment.

The harsher forms of interrogation and punishment are usually reserved for their fellow
countrymen, and foreigners often get away with a slap on the wrist - in this case meaning being
deported after incarceration with other criminals for at least several days (sometimes at a charge
of ą 60,000 per day), without access to family, a consulate, or even a lawyer. Not to mentioned
banishment from Japan for ten years. Well, at least that's what I heard from very reliable sources.
Feel free to prove me wrong by trying to bring a sword into Japan without declaring it.

If you like to live dangerously, be my guest. But please don't make life difficult for the poor
schmuck you're sending a sword to. I know a polisher who once was suspected of violating the
Ju-t˘-h˘, and was interrogated by police for hours. Knowing he did nothing wrong, he somehow
rubbed them the wrong way, and although they were not able to charge him with any crime, he is
checked upon by the police regularly ever since. They visit (or should I say raid?) his house at all
odd hours, looking for unlicensed swords, and when he was fed up and complained, they
"accidentally" slammed his head into a wall.

Urban Legends

As scary as my stories about the police are, Japan is definitely not a lawless country. If you play
by the rules, your sword is safe from harm. Yes, if a Japanese finds his grandfather's Gunt˘ after
he passes away, the police will destroy it (they break it into parts of less than 1 Shaku 尺 [30.3
cm or about one foot] each). It's considered a weapon - as opposed to a work of art - and residents
of Japan are not allowed to own weapons (with a few exceptions like shotguns for hunting). But
if you're not sure whether or not your star-stamped Gendait˘ qualifies for licensing, don't be
afraid that it'll be destroyed upon arrival in Japan. As explained above, it will be send back to the
sender if mailed, or held at the airport police until you pick it up again on your way out of Japan.

Another popular story I hear often - even from Japanese collectors! - is the tale of the sword that
was confiscated after being submitted for Shinsa because it turned out to be a national treasure. In
one word: nonsense!

First of all, there are - technically
speaking - no unknown or missing
Kokuh˘. In 1950 all former national
treasures were re-assigned as Jűy˘-
Bunkazai, and had to be submitted again
to regain their Kokuh˘ status. The
designation of the 14 pre-war Kokuh˘
that were "lost" after WWII is therefore
void. And even if one of those swords
would surface now, it's perfectly legal to
privately own a Jűy˘-Bunkazai, the
Japanese government doesn't simply
snatch it from its rightful owner.

But be that all as it may, more than 60
years after the end of the war there's no
evidence of a rediscovered (former)
national treasure, and not a single case of
a sword that was confiscated after it was
send to Japan. I'm very sorry if I made the
post-sword-show story-telling-time a little
duller. But, as they used to say in the TV
show DRAGNET: "Just the facts, Ma'm!"